2015 Kia Soul EV

  Source: Kia.com I have to admit that the 2015 Kia Soul EV took me by surprise, big time. I drove a Soul last year and it was cute and fun. The girls liked it more than I did.  Then the EV in 'Clear White' arrived and I got a bit of a crush.  First, it has a Star Wars Storm Trooper quality to it inside and out.  That got me excited to drive it right away.  Then, I spent a week with it and didn't want to give it back. This car is electric.  It contains a DC Fast Charge port (480V) and a 27kWh Lithium Ion polymer battery.   I used ChargePoint.com to find charging stations that did quick charges (2-3 hours for a full charge) and DC Fast Charge (30-40 minutes for 80% charge). There were more stations near me than I even knew.  Charging it up was easy, but daily, my one issue.  The … [Read more...]

Tanks & Tees

August, my time for tanks and tees is also known as a month of Sunday's. I'm always a bit sad when August rolls around. The light changes, everything seems a bit drier and I know that the carefree days of summer are speeding away. I must make the most of this time in the sun with my family and friends. My back porch beckons. The pool glistens asking for one more afternoon spent watching the girls play while I catch up on my reading. New projects for work, the house and fun call my name. There is never enough time. It makes me feel a bit of inertia. And clearly that feeling translates to my style. Last week it was all shorts and t-shirts. This week I just want to live in my tank tops and t-shirts. There is no thoughtful curating of outfits. It's what I can put on and run out the door … [Read more...]

Who Wears Shorts?

With summer winding down, I'm taking some time to step back before we head into fall.  It's the perfect time to let you in on some of the places I write in order to make a living. One of those spots is, Social Moms, where I write about fashion and fitness a few times a month.   Shorts Style by victoriamason featuring cuff shorts The Case for Summer Shorts Who wears short shorts? Not many of after the age of 30 and that is perfectly acceptable.  By this age we know what works, what doesn’t and how to work it.  Unless you have mile-long gams and are super fit, short shorts no longer make the “to keep” list when cleaning out our closet.  So what’s a woman to do when the summer sun shines?  Break out the shorts, of course.  We’ve got the lowdown on the best shorts for you that … [Read more...]

Feeling Fall Trends

Are you ready? Are you ready to transition into the fall season? I think I might be on the verge and here's why. Between the "shopping diet" I put myself on, the continuous reading of fashion magazines by the pool the last few weeks and the discovery of a new cash back site, Splender; I'm feeling these fall trends.     Fall Fashion Trends by victoriamason featuring a black cashmere hat   And since that so-called shopping ban was over I was now free to shop and explore my favorite fall fashion trends, and I did that while using the new cash back site, Splender, which was easy to sign up for, had all my favorite stores and a decent percentage of cash back on my purchases. Check out my finds! You should also try to get the feel of polyester to determine if this … [Read more...]

Share-A-Haircut for Back to School

August means our thoughts momentarily turn away from the summer fun and think, "Back to school!"  Buying new clothes, school supplies and for many a hair cut is needed.  I know it is true in my house.  We like to start the year off fresh and newly trimmed locks gives us that feeling when compiled with our new boxes of crayons and backpacks. I'm so excited to be teaming up with Hair Cuttery again to help them celebrate 2015 being their 16th anniversary of the Share-A-Haircut program. How does it work?  Simply put, every child 18 and under who comes in between August 1-15 who purchases a haircut at one of Hair Cuttery's almost 900 salons, like my Fifth Element did, will have one FREE haircut certificate donated to an underprivileged child in their own community. I love that last … [Read more...]

Summer-Inspired Cocktails

This summer, in our new place, has meant spending time in my favorite space, our porch. You can find us out there any time of day, but the best is in the evening when it is time to rehash the day and unwind. A little summer-inspired cocktail or two makes it even better. Recently we added a new set of spirits to our bar from Kobrand Wine & Spirits.  Alizé Passion Gold and Bleu, each infused with premium French vodka and the all natural flavors of exotic passion fruit.  We prefer the Gold version over the Bleu, which has a mix of cherry, a spicy ginger and passion fruit.  I always find it fun to serve up something new whether it is just us alone experimenting or hosting friends for cocktail hour, something we try and schedule each month with different friends. Using the Alizé … [Read more...]

Palm Print Romper

Can we talk about the romper for second?  I was hesitant because shorts are not always my best friend but I do dig a nice jumpsuit, so it seems only natural to wear a romper, am I right? It's National Lipstick Day and I'm not wearing any.  I'm standing in front of my dentist office and I refuse to gunk up their gloves and smear them with lipstick. OH MY GOODNESS! Why did I wait so long?  Was it because I needed just the right shorts length?  Yes!  Was it the print factor?  Yes!  Did Old Navy deliver with the is adorable and so comfortable I feel like I'm wearing pajamas or next to nothing all day long romper?  YES!  A thousand times, yes! Old Navy Palm Print Romper/Rocket Dog Sandals (old- similar)/Gold Medallion (old-similar)/Emerald Stud Earrings … [Read more...]

Lip Service

My grandmother was never one to leave the house without a swipe of lipstick.  A watermelon pink was her shade of choice.  Hey! Guess what? That color is back again.  I have vivid memories of her standing in front of the mirror in her pink and black tiled bathroom applying it just so and then giving me a swipe, because why not? Did you know that July 29 is National Lipstick Day?  Of course it is!  Donuts have a day so why not lipstick!  I'm in love with these gorgeous summery shades right now.  Though my tried and true that I wear all year round is an Armani lipstick in nude (#27) which is no longer being made. When it is done, it is done.  I don't even want to think about that day.   National Lipstick Day by victoriamason featuring nars cosmetics What's your favorite … [Read more...]

Super Hero Summer

It's no secret that I like my super hero movies, comic books and I totally freak out over all things relating to Darth Vader.   In fact, I will totally admit that attending Comic Con is on my bucket list.  Seriously.  I just can't help myself and neither can Hollywood when it comes to creating summer flicks that surround them.  Ant Man debuted last week, a new Avengers comes out each summer and DC Comics forever competes with Marvel for box office results.  I love it.  Summer and super heroes go hand in hand. So does my favorite look from our beach vacation last week. I was all about being on a "shopping diet" but then as I was picking up last minute beach supplies at Target (it gets me every time) this Batman t-shirt landed in my cart. It is light and so super-soft I want to wear it … [Read more...]

A Little Motivation

When it comes to fitness I have been off my game this summer. Sure, I've been working out on a regular basis but I haven't pushed myself in the last month. I stopped running regularly when we started to move and afterwards it was the dead of winter, a new neighborhood with no consistent sidewalks and a bunch of excuses to fuel the 'no more running' fire. Except, once a runner, always a runner. I think that same mind over body thing that can sometimes derail a good run will also bring you right back around. The way I feel after a run lasts more than a few hours and I love how it changes my perspective and gets me out and about and into the elements. It clears my head and keeps me active while giving me a bit of alone time too. And I'm all about anything that offers up less stress, better … [Read more...]